Leading historians, writers and journalists will help Scotland’s oldest inhabited house celebrate its 900th anniversary as part of an exciting literary weekend set for the end of June.
Alexander I sealed a charter at Traquair House in the Scottish Borders in 1107 and to celebrate this anniversary in style, in addition to the annual events programme, the present Laird plans to host a special Birthday Weekend from the 29th June – 1st July. Dr David Starkey, Helena Kennedy, Jon Snow, William McIllvanney, and leading Jacobite historians Daniel Szechi and Dr Christopher Duffy will give a series of lectures and talks over the weekend loosely connected to the history of Traquair. There will also be a Children’s Book Day on Sunday 1st July with top children’s writers Frances Hendry, Vivien French, Debi Gliori and Mhairi Hedderwick will ensure that children are not left out of Traquair’s birthday celebrations.
Since the signing of the Royal Charter, Traquair has played host to 27 Scottish monarchs and it is also the longest continually inhabited house in Scotland. The present descendant and Laird, Catherine Maxwell Stuart commented;
“It is quite awe inspiring for a building to have reached such an age and still remain a family home. It has narrowly escaped being burnt down because of the family’s Catholic and Jacobite sympathies yet somehow always survived. A combination of superb craftsmanship, the care that each generation has put into its upkeep and a good dose of luck has ensured its survival. We feel that it’s something worth celebrating in this, our anniversary year.”
For additional information on the 900th Anniversary Events Programme log on to http://www.traquair.co.uk/events.html
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Catherine Maxwell-Stuart at Traquair House: catherine@traquair.co.uk tel: 01896 830323 or Sandra Grieve at Peagreen PR: sgrieve@peagreenpr.co.uk tel:07718 296707
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